Mule spinning device



June 1', 1948. R. A. GARD' MULE srnmme DEVICE Filed Sept. 4, 1946 INVENTOE zosam A. emao ATTORN Y Patented June 1, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in mule spinning machines and has particular reference to improved means and method of controlling the winding of the twisted yarn on the bobbins.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide novel means and method of controlling the winding of the yarn on the bobbins whereby the said yarn may be more tightly wound without danger of breakage.

Another object is to provide novel means and method of increasing tension on the yarn while it is being wound onto the bobbins and so controlling the introduction of said increased tension as to avoid directing breaking strain on the yarn during said winding.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described in the form of a separate attachment readily adaptable for use with conventional mule spinning machines.

Another object is to so relate the device with the operating mechanism of a mule spinning machine as to cause said device to operate only after the backing oiT operation.

Another object is to enable more yarn to be wound on the bobbin without any material increase in the diameter or resultant size of the filled bobbin.

Another object is to provide simple and efiicient means for accomplishing the above results while decreasing the amount of dofiing and. changing of the bobbins during the spinning operation and thereby greatly increasing the output of the mule spinning.

Another object is to provide simple, eflicient and economical means and method of controlling the winding of the yarn on the bobbins during mule spinning whereby the yarn on the resultant filled bobbin will be tightly wound, will permit a much greater amount of yarn to be wound on a single bobbin, will result in less tendency of the resultant yarn to slide on the bobbin, will permit much longer intervals of weaving without change of bobbin in the shuttle, will cause the windings of the yarn on the bobbins to have less tendency to become knotted during the weaving operation and therefore will greatly decrease the filling breakage, will result in less wastage of yarn due to the decreased requirement of bobbin replacement in the shuttle and the waste of yarn inherently lost with each change of bobbin and which in general will not only be a great time saver but will also decrease cost and greatly increase output both as to mule spinning and weaving. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement of parts and methods shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction, arrangement of parts and steps of the method shown and described as the forms herein given are only by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. I is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the relationof the device of the present invention with the mule spinning machine;

Fig. II is a longitudinal sectional view of the device embodying the invention illustrating a fragmentary portion of the mule with which it is associated and further illustrating the position of the parts of the device when the mule is ready to back oiI preparatory to winding spun yarn on bobbins;

Fig. III is a view generally similar to Fig. II illustrating the relation of the parts when the carriage of the mule has reached substantially its innermost position. during the backing ofi operation;

Fig. IV is a fragmentary sectional view showing the relation of the parts of the lower end of the device just prior to the backing off operation; and

Fig. V is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the raised and lowered positions of the guide and faller wires.

Prior to the present invention, the only means for introducing tension on the yarn during the winding operation of a mule spinning machine was the conventional weight arrangement. The gravital pull of such weights which causes the tension faller wire to introduce tension on the twisted yarn during the backing off and winding operation of the machine is brought into play immediately when the reversed rotary movement is directed to the bobbins and just prior to the inward movement of the carriage.

Due to the above conventional arrangement, the amount of weight which it is possible to use without danger of causing the yarn to break during the backing oif operation is limited to such an extent that the proper amount of tension cannot be directed to the twisted yarn during the winding operation with the result that, in the past, the yarn was very loosely wound on the bobbins. This not only allowed the yarn to slide time was lost in removing the filled bobbins and replacing .them during the spinning operation. Such loosely wound bobbins also required often replacement of spent bobbins during the weaving;

operation and caused considerable loss of yarndue to wastage of the yarn remaining ;oneach;

spent bobbin. The present invention overcomes all of the above difficulties in that'it permits the twisted yarn to be more tightlywound-onathe bobbins during the spinning operation, greatly reduces the loss of time due to dofling, enablesLT the yarn to be more easily spent from the bobbin during the weaving operation; requires less; re

placement of filled bobbins; during: the. .weav ing operation and greatly reduces wastage due-to the greatly reduced requirement ofrcplacement of spent bobbins during the weaving.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the invention relates more particularly to theprovision of an attachment. which :maybe readily. applied to a conventional. mule spinning machine embodying a carriage I having. a pluralityof spindles 2 thereon for supporting the-bobbins 3. The spindles 2 are supported forrotation in the conventional manner. Thecarriag'e. I is pro-. vided with wheels 4 which engage suitable guide. rails 5 for longitudinal movement toward and away from supporting means-.6 on which spools] are mounted. The spools I have theyarna which. is to be spun, wound thereon- The yarn 8 is adapted tobezdrawn. through suitable rollers 9 and I0 and the several strands of yarn are initially connected to the spindles 2 adjacent the heads ofthebobb'lns Thisis a conventional arrangements Suitable guide wires, suchas 'the-guide fallen wire I I and the .tensioniallenwire i2. arepro vided for controlling the position of the windingsof the strands of yarn I3 on the bobbins 3,-and, also, for maintaining the desired tension on the strands during the winding 4 The guide faller wire and the tension faller wire are carried by suitable hook-like supporting arms I4 and I5 respectively mounted on and secured-to shafts I 6 and H. The said shafts are rotatably" mounted in suitable bearings such as the bearings I8 and I9 carried by the respective supports and 2I which are .in turn secured to the carriage- I as illustrated in Fig. I. 'Theshaft I6, to which the arm I4 carrying the guide 'fallerwire-ll isattached, and the shaft IT to which-the arm-l5 carrying the tension fallerwire is attached, are rotated to raise and lower the said' guide and-- tension faller wires in the conventional manner-- and by conventional means not shown. The car-- riage I is moved forwardly andrearwardlybyvariable speed controls not show-nandin the-con ventional manner. The tension applied to 'the tension faller wire I2, following thecohventlonalpractice is through the use of suitablewelghts 221 The above described mechanism is of theoon ventional type known in the artand for t'hiJs-rea' son various details of construction are not shown-. A thorough description of-the machine may bei Johnson & Bassett Incorporated, Worcester,

Massachusetts which description is of the ma-- chine to which the present invention is applied and the above is therefore part of the disclosure relied upon in this specification.

The attachment which embodies the essence of the present invention, as shown in Figs. I through V, comprises a lever 23 having a yoked end 24 in which an eye 25 formed on the upper end of a rod 26 is pivotally attached. The lever 23 is mounted on the shaft I! and is secured thereto by means of.a set screw or the like 21.

The rod 26 is slidably mounted in telescoped irelation with a tubular member 28 having a longitudinal slot 29 therein. The tubular member 28 has a collar 30 secured thereto by a set screw or 1 the like 3 I at a position spaced from the upper end thereof and has a collar 32 slideably supported thereon and connected adjacent the lower end of the rod 23 by means of a pin or the like 33. On the sleeve 28intermediate the collars 30 and .32,

respectively, there is provided a compressionv spring 34; The pin 33 is adapted to be moved longitudinally of the slot 29 by the rod 26 and is adapted to be restricted in its upward movement by the. compression spring 34. The lower end of the sleeve 28 is provided with an annular shouldered portion 35. Mounted on the lower portion of the sleeve 28 intermediate the annular shouldered portion 35 and the collar 32 there is provided an additional compression spring member 36 which is adapted to cushion the downward movement of the collar 32 during the operation of the device. The end of the sleeve 28 is provided witha reduced extension portion 31 having-a right angled portion 38. Secured to the opposed sides of the reduced extension or depending portion 31 is a pair of right angled rods 39 and 40 which are secured to said-portion 31 by means of welding or the like. The right angled portions 39 and 40 extend outwardly of the opposed sides of the portion 31in substantially normal relation with the right angled portion 38. The function of said portions 39 and 40 will be described hereinafter.

To the collar 32 there is attached a tension spring M which is secured adjacent one end thereof to said collar 32 and adjacent the opposed end thereof to a bracket 42 secured to the base of the carriage I by means of bolts or the like 43. The said bolts 43, simultaneous to their function of securing the bracket 42 to the base of the carriage I. also function tosecure a member 44 to which a lever 45 is pivotally attached as illustrated at 46.-

The lever 45, adjacent the rearmost end there-.

of, has a roller or guide wheel 41'rotatab1y at-. tached thereto. Adjacent the forward end of the lever 45 there is secured a channeledguide block 48gof a U shapedcross-section betw en.

which the right angledportion .38 is adaptedto extend as shown-in the various figures. .The. for

ward end of the lever 45-extends inwardly of the. channel of the guide block," .as shown best in Figs. II throughIV and hassecured thereto a uide plate 49. The said guide-plate 49, throughout its longitudinal edges, is also sccuredt'othe;

inner contiguous sidesurfaces .of the; guide block 48. 'The end of the. rightiangled portion, in

one position of use as shown in FigIV, is adapted to engagethe front surface of the guide-plate 43 and is adapted to move downwardly of said guide surface and to be pulled inwardly by -the tension spring 4| to cause said portion 38 to latch be found in a publication on 'fHigh speed. Mules by re nea'tnth forward end-of the lever li-"and the adjacent lower end of the guide plate 49 as shown best in Figs. II and III.

The guide wheel 4! is adapted to engage a guide'track 49 having a forward portion '50 secured to the floor by right angled brackets or the like 5|. The said portion 50 extends rearwardly a controlled predetermined distance and is joined to an intermediate inclined section 52 which in turn is joined to a raised section 53. The said raised section 53 is supported by suitable brackets or the like 54. Intermediate the ends of the raised section 53 there is provided spaced abutment portions 55 adapted to be engaged by the opposed outwardly extending right angled portions 39 and 45.

Thefunction of the device is substantially as follows:

In following the conventional practice, at the completion of each twisting operation the direction of rotation of the bobbins is reversed and the guide faller wire H and the tension faller wire [2 function to take up the slack in the yarn due to this reversed movement. This function results from the lowering of the guide faller wire H and the raising of the tension faller wire I2 from their positions such as shown in Fig, I to the position diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. V. It is to be noted that the rotation of the shafts l6 and l! to bring about this result causes the lever 23 to be lowered with the result that the rod 25 will simultaneously be moved in a downward direction releasing compression on the coil spring 34 and allowing the collar 32 to move downwardly into engagement with the coil spring 36 which in turn will cause the reduced depending portion 31 and the right angled portion 38 to move downwardly. During this downward movement, as shown in Fig. IV, the portion 38 slides downwardly of the guide plate 49 to a position whereby the tension spring 4| will cause the end of the portion 38 to latch beneath the lower end of the guide plate 49 and the adjacent forward end of the lever 45. At the completion of the reversed movement of the bobbins, the carriage l starts to move inwardly along the guide rails 5. As the carriage moves inwardly the roller 41 will move along the forward end 50 of the guide track 49'. During this interval the weights 22 function in their conventional manner. Further inward movement of the carriage causes the guide wheel 41 to move upwardly of the inclined portion 52. As it progresses upwardly of the inclined portion 52 the said guide wheel will cause the lever 45 to rock on its pivot 45 and will cause the forward end thereof beneath which the end of the portion 38 is latched to move downwardly causing the sleeve 28 to be drawn downwardly whereby the collar 33 will compress the coil spring 34. This downward movement causes the compression of the coil spring 34 to be increased progressively as the guide wheel 4'! moves upwardly of the inclined portion 52 and the said coil spring 34 is held at a given compression as the roller 41 moves rearwardly of the raised section 53. The compression of the coil spring 34 causes the said coil spring to exert an increased pressure in a downward direction on the collar 32 thereby restraining the upward movement of the rod 26 and the lever 23 and causes increased tension to be directed to the tension wire l2 and thereby causes the tension wire to draw the strands l3 more tightly while the yarn is being wound onto the bobbins while the carriage is moved in an inward direction.

At a predetermined point along said raised section 53, the opposed outwardly extending right angled portions 39 and 40 will engage the abutment members 55 and will cause the portion 38 to be pushed forwardly to release the end thereof from beneath the lower end of the guide plate 49 and the adjacent end of the lever 45 thereby causing the compression of the spring 34 to be released at said location. This relieving of the compression of the coil spring 34 permits the said spring to lengthen out to its initial set thereby causing the sleeve 28 to move upwardly of the rod 26 whereby the spring 35 will move into place and relieve shock as the said sleeve moves upwardly through engagement of the coil spring 36 with the lower edge of the collar 32.

Fig. II illustrates the related position of the parts at the time the end of the portion 38 latches beneath the guide plate 49 and the adjacent end of the lever 45. At this time the guide wheel 41 is resting on the lowered section 50 of the guide track.

Fig. III illustrates the related position of the parts as the guide wheel 41 is moving upwardly of the inclined portion 52 to the raised section 53 and just prior to the engagement 0f the right angled portions 39 and 45 with the abutment members 55.

Fig. IV diagrammatically illustrates the relation of the parts just after engagement of the right angled portions 39 and 40 with the abutment members 55.

From the above it is pointed out that the initial tension is directed to the faller wires through the releasing of the weights 22 in the conventional manner. The increased tension is introduced by the compression function of the coil spring 34 and its associated mechanism only after the initial backing off operation and only as the guide roller 41 starts its movement upwardly of the inclined portion 52 and is in proportion to the rise of the incline as the carriage moves further inwardly. The height of the raised portion 53 controls and retains the maximum amount of tension required. This increased tension causes the yarn to be held more taut as the carriage moves inwardly and during the interval throughout which the twisted yarn is being wound onto the bobbins. At the completion of this winding and as the carriage reaches a predetermined location inwardly, the compression of the coil spring 34 is relieved and the tension faller wire and guide faller wire return to their initial function with the subsequent operations being in the conventional manner.

It is further particularly pointed out that due to the fact that the end of the portion 38 is disengaged from beneath the guide plate 49 and the adjacent end of the lever 45 just prior to the car-- riage being moved out to dofiing position, the doffing operation may be performed in the usual conventional manner as there will be no compressing effect taking place on the coil spring 34 during said dofiing which will in any way hinder the usual doifing procedure to be carried. out as it readily permits the tension faller wire to be manually lowered and locked in this position in the conventional manner.

After the filled bobbins have been removed and fresh bobbins placed on the spindles the tension faller wire and the guide faller wire are moved to their operative positions simultaneously to rotary movement being imparted to the bobbins.-

This operation starts the windings at the base of the bobbins according to standard practice and the device embodying the invention is ready 7. to function automatlcallyand successively with out furtherattention oradiustment. 1 f

Froin'the foregoing description, it willlbe have been provided foraccompllshing all-theiobjects and advantages of the invention.

Having describedmy invention, I claim:

1. Anattachment adapted: to be associated with the supporting shaft of the. tension faller Wire A and carriage of a mule spinning machine, said device comprising a lever'attachedto the tension fallen-wire shaft, a rod connected with said-leven-a sleeve in sliding telescopic relation with said -rod,= said sleeve having an abutment member thereon and said-rod having-an abutment memberthereon moveable longitudinally of the sleeve, a coil spring intermediate said abutment members, said sleeve-havinga latch portionadjacent the lower end thereof, a second le-'- ver pivotally connected with the'carriage having a latch portion adjacent its forward end and a guide roller adjacent its opposed end, a guide rail on which the guide 'roller'is adapted to be moved, said guide rail having-a relatively low forward-portion, an intermediate inclined portionand a raised rear portion and means associated with said guide rail and with said lower end of the sleeve for disengaging the latch portion of the sleeve from the latch portion of the tions relative to each other in onedirection, one

of said portions having a latch portion thereon, a second lever pivotally connected with the carriage having its forward end adapted to be latched with the latch portion andmeans for moving-said second lever on its pivot and for simultaneously moving the-latch portion downwardly as the carriage moves inwardly.

3. An attachment adaptedv to-be associated with the supporting shaft of the tension faller wire and carriageof a mule spinning. machine, said devicecomprising .a lever attached to the tension faller wire shaft, a member embodying two portions moveable longitudinally relative to each other having one of said portions pivotally connected with the lever, spring meansfor limitin thelongitudinal movement of said portions relative to each other in one: direction,. one 10f said portions having a latchportion. thereon,

seen that. simple, eflicienu: and economical emeans a second lever-pivotally connected with the; riage having its forward end: adapted -.to:-. be: latched with the: latch portiomzmeans for moving 'said'second .leveron its pivot and for simultaneously. moving-vthe :Iatch. portion downwardly.

as .the' carriage moves inwardlyand-means. forv disassociating .saidarm with: said latch-portion. when the carriagezis moved inwardly a predee' terminedamount;

4. A device of the character describediadapted to be. operably associeltedwithza carriage, said;- device comprisinga lever, -.a member embodying: two portions adj ustable. longitudinally. relative to: each; other, one of said portions; being pivotally: connected with the lever, resilient meanssfor' lime. itingth'e longitudinal movement of said portions relative to each other in one direction ofzmovev'i ment,.said.0ther portion having. a-latch portion adjacent. the: lowerend thereof, a second 1 lever pivotally connected with the carriage and having. means adjacenttheforward end thereof for en-.- gaging said latch: portion. 1

5'.l-A device. ofthe' character described com-; prising. .a lever,,a member embodyingtwo pot-- tions I adjustable .zlongltudinally: relative to each other, :--one: of said portions'beingpivotally connected with the lever, resilient means for limiting the longitudinal movement of said. portions-rela tive ,to each; other in one directionof movement, said other portion havingqa shouldered-portion; thereon-and additional resilient means on said other portion intermediate, said shouldered portion'and thefirst-resilient means. i

6. A device ofthe character described.adapted to be operably associated with a carriage; said devicecomprising, a lever, a member embodying two'portions adjustable longitudinally; relative to each other, one-of said portions being.- operablyconnected with the lever, resilient means for limiting the longitudinal movement-pf 'said portionsrelative tozeaclrother in one direction ;-of movement,-- said othenportion. having a latch portionadjacent-the lower endthereof, a second lever adapted to be pivotally connectedwith the carriage and having means'adjacent the forward.

The following references are of record in the: file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 1 Name Date 1,094,327-v Hamer Apr. 21,v 1914 FOREIGN PATENTS Number 7 Country Date.

235,705 Great Britain June 25, 1925. 

